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Born in the suburbs o Stockholm in 1972, Zelmani's faither bought the family a guitar when Zelmani wis 14.[1] Despite no professional muisic trainin,[1] Zelmani became a sangwriter an recordit some sangs at a local studio. Efter she mailed the demos tae three record companies, Zelmani wis affered a record deal bi Sony Music Sweden.

Sophie Zelmani[1] recordit her debut, eponymous album wi Sony in 1995. The album wis producit an arrangit bi Lars Halapi[2] an co-producit bi Patrik Sventelius, who an aw played guitar. She describit the process o makkin the album: "In the beginning Lars and I spent a few months in the studio. We had fun and then picked the musicians. We recorded in two weeks but the whole thing took half a year."[3] Bi 1997, Zelmani's debut album haed sauld 200,000 copies in Europe an Asie Pacific, afore muivin tae the US mercat, distributit bi Columbia Records.[4] Zelmani said, "I had no ambitions to go abroad. I knew I wanted to make a record. That's all I wanted."[3] Columbia's mercatin campaign includit CD sampler giveaways, consumer press, an rotation on SAS Airlines flichts atween Scandinavie an the US.[5]

Zelmani haes continued tae record albums while makkin anerlie a sma number o public appearances due tae shyness.[1] She wan a best newcomer award in Sweden's Grammy awards in 1996.[6]